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Ransomware attacks and other cybersecurity threats are hitting companies across the federal supply chain, leaving businesses and government agencies vulnerable to major data breaches and financial losses. In this episode of "Security Clearance Insecurity," host Lyndy Kyzer speaks with GroupSense CEO, Kurtis Minder, about the latest cyber threats and best practices for protecting against them.

Join our partner NTT Data Services for their upcoming webinar panel, "The Evolving Threat of Ransomware," this March 29. GroupSense CEO Kurtis Minder will join industry experts to talk about the rapidly changing world of ransomware threats. The panelists will dissect modern ransomware attacks that jeopardize businesses across various sectors. Register here to save your spot.

Discover how a new generation of cybercriminals and their ransomware-as-a-service schemes are putting SME/SMBs in the crosshairs, launching the effectiveness and volume of ransomware to unprecedented heights. Learn how these cunning operators exploit the primal fears of data loss and exposure to create a sense of urgency, driving their victims to act impulsively.

Ransomware operators prey on the fear of data loss which sparks emotions that drive their targets to react right away. The fear of embarrassment and their sensitive data being exposed to the world increases the stakes of every ransomware attack.

Know the panelists:
Haroon Malik: Director – NTT Data
Kurtis Minder: CEO - GroupSense
Morgan Wright: Chief Security Advisor - SentinelOne
Brian Stockbrugger: Sr. Cloud Security Architect - Microsoft
Mike Landeck: Director of Security Services - NTT DATA Services
Salvatore Perlangeli: Heart of Threat Defense Practice - NTT DATA Italia

GroupSense CEO Kurtis Minder was featured in the Tuesday, March 14 issue of the Axios Codebook Newsletter. The "1 big thing" section is focused on the increasing threat posed by ransomware gangs and their extreme blackmail tactics. These cyber criminals have been fine-tuning their strategies to maximize their profits and inflict more damage on their victims. Ransomware attacks involve the use of malware that encrypts a victim's files, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid. The attackers typically demand payment in cryptocurrency, making it difficult to track the money and identify the criminals.

Ransomware gangs have evolved their tactics, not only encrypting victims' files but also stealing sensitive data before locking it down. This technique is called "double extortion," where the criminals threaten to publish or sell the data if the ransom is not paid. The gangs are also targeting larger organizations and demanding higher ransoms, with some demanding payments of up to $50 million.

The section also highlights Kurtis' contributions to the fight against ransomware. He has been a vocal advocate for proactive measures to prevent ransomware attacks, including monitoring networks for signs of an attack and training employees to recognize phishing and social engineering tactics commonly used by ransomware gangs. For many organizations, these measures can prevent cyber attacks and ransomware attacks.

Kurtis' expertise in ransomware has led him to create a "Ransomware Task Force" that includes experts from both the public and private sectors. The task force's goal is to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat ransomware, including prevention, response, and recovery measures. The task force has already published a report with recommendations for improving ransomware defenses, and Kurtis has been actively promoting these recommendations to policymakers and business leaders. Check out the full newsletter here.

At first glance, Biden’s recently released National Cybersecurity Strategy appears comprehensive and forward-thinking. It focuses on a number of areas such as strengthening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), developing new technologies to detect threats, and increasing international cooperation to fight transnational cybercrime. However, the strategic initiatives laid out in the document are not funded, and in many cases, are not possible without fundamental changes to organizations and their systems. In this blog, we will focus on strategic initiatives 1.4, 2.2, 2.3, and 3.3.

Cybercriminals are opportunistic by nature. Repeatable methods like ransomware and business email compromise (BEC) attacks are a quick and easy way for criminals to make money. Fortunately, there are steps your organization can take to prevent these attacks from happening that focus on simple, proactive methods of cybersecurity. Download our guide to get actionable advice today.

Last week, GroupSense CEO Kurtis Minder was featured on the BBC 4 news program You and Yours. The presenter, Winifred Robinson, spoke about the effect of the Royal Mail ransomware attack with UK citizens and discussed the severity of the attack with Kurtis.

The Russo-Ukrainian War: A Year in Review
One year after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we are providing this report summarizing what we have learned while observing the cyber dynamics of this latest stage in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

While experts expected Russia to unleash its full arsenal of cyber capabilities, much of the publicly-known cyber activity associated with the war has come from hacktivist activity among ideologically-motivated actors who have taken the side of Russia or Ukraine. 

The report summarizes what we have learned in the past year, highlights the evolution of pro-Russian hacktivism as a significant factor in the cyber realm and provides recommendations for all organizations to consider as this conflict wages on. 

Cybersecurity isn't just for big business. Organizations of all sizes, shapes, and industries can fall prey to cyberattacks. CEO Kurtis Minder was featured on the "C-Suite Blueprint" podcast to talk about the evolution of cybersecurity since Kurtis entered the industry and the things that executives should take seriously when it comes to cybersecurity.

Ransomware gangs have increasingly focused their attacks on the K-12 education sector, even though most school districts do not pay the ransom. But how long will that last? GroupSense CEO Kurtis Minder was featured in a recent TechTarget article exploring the trend of ransomware attacks on education institutions. 

This week, GroupSense CEO Kurtis Minder was featured in Help Net Security's video series. In the video, Kurtis reviews the proposed changes to the US national cybersecurity strategy. In the forthcoming strategy, President Biden recommends a more offensive cybersecurity posture, stating that the US will proactively attack threat actors. Kurtis believes that these changes, while "exciting", are not as effective as a defensive cybersecurity strategy. Watch the full video and check out the article here.